The tale of Snowball Lamb

In Short

Arthur Scott Bailey’s short story follows Snowball, an energetic lamb on the Green family farm who grows from an overeager hand-reared pet into a mischievous member of the pasture flock. Driven by curiosity and a desire for human treats, Snowball accidentally breaks farm routines, leads his elderly fellow sheep into wild games of follow-the-leader, and outsmarts local bullies. The narrative’s gentle humor, animal perspective, and lighthearted depiction of rural farm life give it an enduring, cozy charm for young readers learning about independence, consequences, and farm yard social dynamics.

The Story

The story opens when young Johnnie Green receives permission from his father to take a newborn lamb as a pet. Though the initial black lamb Johnnie tries to catch escapes up the lane, he secures a young white lamb named Snowball. Old dog Spot grows deeply jealous of the new arrival, grumbling to the Muley Cow that sheep are far too stupid to replace a loyal farm dog. However, Snowball quickly endears himself to Johnnie, even earning a ride into town in the farm wagon. Despite Spot’s hopes that Mrs. Green will put a stop to the pet, her strict rule keeping animals out of the kitchen leads to Snowball being turned out into the pasture to live with the main sheep flock.

Life in the pasture opens up a wider world for the young lamb. Snowball makes the acquaintance of wild woodland neighbors and local birds, including the sly Mr. Crow. When Farmer Green decides to treat the flock to salt, the gullible Snowball falls for Mr. Crow's absurd warning that "salting" means putting salt on their tails to catch them. After Nimble Deer demonstrates that the salt is just a tasty snack left on the ground, Snowball eagerly joins in, though his naive questions irritate the senior ewe, Aunt Nancy.

Johnnie soon returns to teach Snowball circus tricks, using handfuls of cracked corn to train him to leap through paper-covered hoops. Snowball’s enthusiasm for the game leads to an awkward accident when he rolls down a hill in a wooden barrel, crashing into the farmhouse wall and scaring himself away from circus ambitions. Turning his energy back to his flock, Snowball takes up the game of "Follow My Leader." Because sheep instinctively follow whoever moves first, Snowball leads the reluctant, heavy-footed older sheep on frantic, daily dashes across the stone wall, greatly disturbing the underground home of Uncle Jerry Chuck. When Aunt Nancy tries to break him of the habit by warning him to imagine a bear beyond the wall, Snowball swerves sharply, startling an actual bear hidden in the brush and accidentally trapping his own tail under a rock.

As Snowball grows larger, his horns begin to bud, and he discovers the joy of butting. When a neighborhood bully named Red teases Johnnie and demands Snowball be banished, Snowball waits for his moment. During a outing at the local swimming hole, Snowball sneaks up on Red and butts the bully headfirst into the deepest water.

The book reaches its climax during spring shearing. Farmer Green shears the unruly black lamb first, making him look small and funny. When Johnnie Green takes Snowball to the barn for his turn, a fishing invitation from Red interrupts the work halfway through. Snowball is returned to the field absurdly sheared on only one side of his body. Though initially mortified by the flock's laughter, Snowball learns to accept his asymmetrical appearance when Johnnie's promise to finish the job "tomorrow" stretches into a permanent, comfortable reality.

How It Unfolds

The new arrival Johnnie Green catches a young lamb to keep as a pet, naming him Snowball and taking him on trips around the farm and into town. Old dog Spot fumes with jealousy over the farm's favorite new resident, while Mrs. Green insists the animal belong out in the pasture with the rest of the livestock.

Lessons in the pasture Settling in with the flock, Snowball learns about pasture life and meets local wildlife like Mr. Crow and Nimble Deer. He navigates confusing farm routines, such as learning that "salting the sheep" is a delicious treat rather than a trick to catch him by the tail.

Circus ambitions Johnnie Green trains Snowball to jump through paper hoops in exchange for handfuls of cracked corn, aiming to turn him into a performing animal. The training comes to a sudden halt after an runaway barrel ride leaves Snowball thoroughly rattled.

Leading the flock Snowball discovers that the other sheep will blindly follow him anywhere, leading to endless games of "Follow My Leader" over the stone wall. His wild dashes exhaust Aunt Nancy Ewe, terrify Uncle Jerry Chuck in his burrow, and accidentally startle a passing bear.

Settling scores As his horns grow, Snowball uses his newfound butting skills to defend himself against farmyard nuisances. When the neighborhood boy Red teases Johnnie and bullies the animals, Snowball sneaks up behind him at the swimming hole and launches him into the deep water.

Half a haircut Spring shearing arrives, stripping the sheep of their heavy winter fleece and altering their appearances. Johnnie begins shearing Snowball but leaves the task half-finished to go on a fishing trip, forcing Snowball to live with half his wool intact.

The People

• Snowball Lamb: The central character, an energetic, curious young sheep who begins as a hand-raised pet and matures into a confident member of the pasture flock. He wants tasty treats like cracked corn and enjoys active games, but his impetuous running and headbutting frequently land him in ridiculous situations.
• Johnnie Green: The farmer's young son, who treats Snowball with affection and attempts to train him for grand adventures like joining the circus. He is easily distracted by boyhood leisure, such as swimming and fishing, which leaves his farm chores—and Snowball's haircut—unfinished.
• Old Dog Spot: The aging, practical farm dog who resents Snowball's status as a pet. He considers sheep inherently foolish and worries that Johnnie's devotion to the lamb diminishes his own status as the farm's primary protector.
• Aunt Nancy Ewe: The matriarchal, heavy-fleeced older ewe in the flock who values order and quiet grazing. She is forced to run after Snowball during games of "Follow My Leader" because she cannot break her natural instinct to follow, leaving her repeatedly exasperated by his youthfulness.
• The Black Lamb: A wilder, older lamb in the pasture who distrusts humans and refuses to be handled. He acts as a skeptical foil to Snowball's trust in Johnnie Green.
• Red: A neighborhood boy who takes pleasure in teasing farm animals and tying knots in the other boys' clothes at the swimming hole. His arrogance makes him the primary target of Snowball's powerful headbutt.

In Its Own Voice

"If you're jealous--" she began.

The Muley Cow sees directly through old dog Spot's grumbling complaints when he protests that a simple lamb could never pull a baby from a pond or fight off a bull.

"Haven't you ever heard that that's the way to catch people?" cried Mr. Crow at last.

The cynical old crow attempts to pass off his own paranoid superstitions about salt as absolute wisdom to the naive young lamb.

"I don't know," the old lady confessed. "Maybe I fell into the habit of following when I was young."

Aunt Nancy Ewe admits to Snowball that even as an elder, she cannot resist the instinct to blindly join in whenever another sheep starts to run.

What It's Really About

Beneath its gentle farmyard incidents, the book explores the tension between youthful independence and the rigid instincts of the group. Snowball begins as an individual pet, isolated from his kind, but must eventually integrate into the collective life of the flock. Through the mechanics of games like "Follow My Leader," Bailey illustrates how herd mentality operates—showing that even reluctant elders like Aunt Nancy follow along simply out of long-established habit. The narrative also touches on the humor of unearned authority, poking fun at figures like Mr. Crow, whose confident advice turns out to be entirely absurd. Ultimately, the story celebrates resilience and adaptability, showing how a young animal learns to navigate human quirks, animal traditions, and his own awkward physical growth.

Why Read It Today

This short chapter book offers a charming, nostalgic slice of early twentieth-century children's literature, ideal for young readers who enjoy episodic animal tales. Bailey’s writing is characterized by precise, clear sentence structures, warm humor, and a quiet respect for the rural world. The text presents very few modern reading difficulties: the language is direct, accessible, and free of dense historical dialect, making it easy to read aloud or for early readers to tackle independently.

What remains memorable is Bailey's light touch in giving distinct personalities to domestic livestock. Rather than portraying farm animals as uniform or featureless, the narrative treats their small rivalries, habits, and misunderstandings with real warmth and comedic timing. The humorous resolution to Snowball's half-sheared coat serves as a gentle reminder that perfection isn't necessary to fit into a community. Readers looking for a cozy, unhurried bedtime story will find this tale of farmyard life both comforting and surprisingly witty.